Mixing apparatus



March 21, 1939- 'Q H. PETRY 2,151,146

MIXING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hinz/mom il 44 MA ATTORNEYS March 21, 1939. c. H. PETRYy MIXING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Patented Mar. 2l, 1939 Y f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIXING APPARATUS Clayton H. Petry, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Turbo-Mixer Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 16, 1935, Serial No. 50,141

11 Claims. (Cl. 64-1) This invention relates to mixing apparatus and Fig. IV is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. I. more particularly'T to a construction for support- A mixing shaft l, carrying one or more mix. ingand driving one or more mixing impellers. ing impellers 2, is adapted to depend within a Mixing apparatus is used for such a wide vamixing tank (not shown) and the shaft is sup- 5 riety of industrial purposes that manufacturers ported at its upper end by a supporting structure r, of the apparatus are called upon to meet an exdesignated as a whole by 4. The support II conceedingly wide range of specifications. In some sists essentially of a single metal casting havmixing operations shaft bearings within the tank ing a tubular portion 5 which projects above and cannot be permitted, for various reasons includbelow a ange portion 6. Gussets I (four shown) ing abrasive action and the undesirability of are positioned beneath the flange 6 to add 10 bearing metals in contact with the mix; yet a strength and rigidity, and other gussets as 8 (also long shaft, equipped with several heavy impellers, four shown) are positioned above the flange 6 for may be required. When large heavy impellers a similar purpose. The upper face of the flange are called for, the mixing shaft and bearings 6 is so formed as to provide an annular lubricant must be correspondingly large; but the power reservoir 9 which is adapted to collect the'fugi- 15 requirements may be large or small, depending tive lubricant from some of the bearings of the upon the impeller speed and the viscosity of the organization. A drain plug I0 permits the resermiX. The mixing apparatus has a long life and Voir to be drained as required; and the gussets 8 only one or two units may be called for under are preferably pierced as at I!a to permit the enany one set of specifications. These considera tire -contents of the reservoir to reach the drain 20 tions make it highly desirable for the manufachole. Surrounding the reservoir 9 is an upstandturer to have apparatus which can be economiing ring 6a. cally constructed to meet any of a wide variety A thrust bearing, designated as a whole by I5, of combinations of (a) mixing shaft speed, (b) is mounted in the Upper end 0f tubular POItOn length of shaft and number of impellers, (c) 5,' and a second bearing, designated as a Whole shaft size and impeller weight, and (d) shaft by 20, is positioned in the lower end of tubular driving power. portion 5. The inner race of bearing I5 is locked An object of the present invention is to proto shaft I by lock nuts I6, I6 and lock washers vide an improved structure for driving a. mixing II, I'I. The outer race of bearing I5 is Secured shaft and adequately supporting the same withto the suppering Structure by Clamping ring i8, 30 out shaft guides or bearings located within the held by Suitable means Sueh aS 03D SCIeWS |9- mixng tank. Bearing 20 is secured to the shaft by locking ring Another object of the invention is to provide 2i, which eccentrically engages the inner member a mixing construction which permits adequate 20a of the bearing 20 and takes a locking hold lubrication of bearing surfaces and provides ef- 1113011 the member 20a When-suitably rotated With 3- fective arrest of fugitive lubricant which might respect thereto. After the locking ring, 2| has have a tendency to enter the mixing tank. been rotated to locking position, it is secured in Another object of the invention is to provide place by a Set Screw 22- Various assembly proa construction for supporting and driving a mixcedures are possible, e g., bearing i5 may be ing shaft; which construction lends itselfftoflexclamped in Place by ring I8, bearing 20 clamped ibility in design to obtain varying combinations to shaft I at the proper position thereon, and 4C of shaft size, shaft length, shaft speed, and drivthen the shaft may be ieleseoped upwardly ing power. through bearing I5 and nuts I6, I6 applied with Fig. I is a more or less diagrammatic elevation lock washers I1, I'I. of a mixing shaft and drive embodying the preg- The lower end of tubular portion 5 is closed by ent invention. an annular closure 24, sealed by a gasket 25, and

Fig. II is a plan view, partially in section, held in place by cap screws such as 26. The closhowing primarily part of the shaft Support and sure 24 is arranged to be spaced slightly from an adapter which supports a driving unit. The the races of bearing 20 t0 allow for Slight vertiview is taken approximately on the line II-II cal movement of the bearing 20 upon expansion of Fig. III. Y and contraction of the shaft I due to tempera- Fig. III is a vertical section taken approximateture changes. A grease cup 21 provides lubricaly on the line III-III of Fig. II. The view shows tion for both of bearings I5 and 20. the shaft support and the adapter for support- Formed in the bottom of closure M is an aning the driving unit. vnular space to receive packing 23, adaptedqto be compressed by pressure member 28, secured by means such as screws 29. Afhxed to the closure 24 by screws 30 is a reservoir 3l adapted to receive fugitive lubricant creeping downv the shaft I. A disc 32 is brazed. welded or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft I and serves to sling into the reservoir 3l any lubricant creeping down the shaft. The reservoir 3| may be drained in any suitable way as by drain pipe 34 which may lead to a discharge point located outside of the mixing tank.

Detachably mounted on flange 6 is a hollow adapter designated as a Whole by 40. This adapter has a lower flange 4I which seats on the supporting flange 6 in telescopic relation with ring 6e. The adapter also has an upper flange 42 adapted to support a drive unit designated as a whole by 44. Adapter 40 may be secured to flange 6 by four bolts 45 which pass into corner portions 46 (see Fig. II) of the flange 6; and in some instances the bolts may be cap screws threaded into flange 6. 'I'he corner portions 45 are formed with flat bottoms adapted to cooperate with separate supporting arms 41 which may be used in mounting the structure on a tank. With such mounting, bolts 45 may pass through flange 6, as shown, and enter the arms 41 thus securing together parts 6, 4I and 41. Access to the interior of adapter 40 may be had through oppositely positioned oval holes 48.

v'I'he drive-unit 44 may be of any suitable type and may include a vertical driving motor 44 and a reduction gear unit 44h. Such vertical motors, with built-in gear units, are available on the market to meet a very wide range of speed and power requirements. As shown, the drive is secured by cap screws 5I to the upper flange of the adapter; and the drive has a driving shaftY 54 which depends in at least approximatealignment with shaft I. Connection between the shaft 54 and the shaft I is made by any suitable type of coupling 55. Preferably this coupling 55 is of a flexible type, thus eliminating the necessity for accurate alignment between shafts With a very few standardized sizes and designs of supports 4 and several standardized sizes of adapters 40, the mixer manufacturer can meet a very wide range of mixer specifications. The standardized designs of shaft supports 4 take care of the requirements of shaft size and length of shaft. Open market purchasers of drive units 44 take care of the speed and power requirements. And the few standardized adapters 40 permit the required drive to be assembled with the required shaft support 4.

' In compliance with the patent statutes, I have disclosed'the best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention, but the disclosure is to be considered as illustrative and not. aslim-` iting the scope of the claims.

VyWhat is claimed is: l I

l.` The combination yofifja unit' embodying an kimpeller shaft supporty and a vertical impeller shaft passing through and extending beyond the bottom and top of said support, Ea driving member supported above said shaft support in substantial axial alignment with saidimpeller shaft, and a'exible coupling connecting the driving member with the upper end of the impeller shaft, said support having vertically spaced bearings for said impeller shaft, the upper of said bearings restraining the upper end of 4said shaft against longitudinal movement in either direction relative to said supportv so that Vlongitudinal stresses set up in the impeller shaft are not communicated to the driving member, the lower of said bearings permitting limited longitudinal movement of part of said shaft.

2. The combination of: a. unit embodying an impeller shaft support and a vertical impeller shaft passing through and extending beyond the bottom and top of said support, a housing for a driving member above said shaft support and having a driving member in substantial axial alignment with said impeller shaft, an adapter housing interposed between and connecting said unit and said driving member housing, and a coupling connecting the driving member with the upper end of the impeller shaft, said shaft support having vertically spaced bearings for said impeller shaft, said shaft having its upper end held against longitudinal movement in either direction relative to said shaft support so that longitudinal stresses set up in the impeller shaft are not communicated to the driving member, said unit being interchangeable with units having impeller shafts of different characteristics.

3: The combination of a unit embodying an impeller shaft support and a vertical impeller shaft passing through and extending beyond the top and a considerable distance below the bottom of said support, a driving member supported above said shaft support in substantial axial alignment with said impeller. shaft, a exible coupling between the driving member and the upper end of the impeller shaft, and verticallyv spaced bearings in said support comprising the sole support for said impeller shaft, said shaft having its upper end held against longitudinal movement in leither direction relative to said shaft support so that longitudinal stresses set up in the impeller shaft are not communicated to the driving member.

4. The combination of: a unit embodying an impeller shaft support and a vertical impeller shaft passing through and extending beyond the top and a considerable distance below thel bottom of said support, a drivingmemb'er supported above said shaft support in substantial axial alignment with said impeller shaft, a flexible coupling connecting the driving member with the upper end of the impeller shaft, and vertically spaced bearings in said support comprising the sole support for said impeller shaft, said shaft having its upper end held against longitudinal movement in either direction relative to said shaft support so that longitudinal stresses set up in the impeller shaft are not communicated to the driving member, said unit being interchangeable with other units so that shafts of different characteristics can be driven by said driving member.

5. In mixing apparatus of the type in which rotary mixing means is suspended in a tank of liquid by a vertical mixing shaft that is rotated by a source of power located above the liquid,

an improved organization for rigidly mounting -the mixing shaft and rotating the same, said ing'thetubular portion; a plurality of vertically spaced bearings carried by said tubular portion Aand positionedabove the upper level of the liquid and out of contact therewith, the mixing.

shaft depending from said tubular portion into the liquid and being supported and guided solely by said bearings; a hollow adapter detachably mounted on said ange portion; a vertical motor detachably mounted on the adapter; and a ilexible coupling within the adapter, the coupling making driving connection between the motor andthe mixing shaft.

6. In mixing apparatus of the type in which rotary mixing means is suspended in a tank of liquid by a vertical mixing yshaft that is rotated by a source of power located above the liquid, an improved organization for rigidly mounting the mixing shaft and rotating the same, said or'- ganization comprising: a stationary metal support having a stationary vertical tubular portion and a stationary flange portion surrounding the tubular portion, said support including strengthening gussets connected with the tubular portion and also with the bottom of the flange portion, the top ofthe flange portion being formed to provide an annular reservoir to collect fugitivelubricant;l a plurality of vertically spaced bearings carried by said tubular portion and positioned above the upper level of the liquid and out of contact, therewith, the mixing shaft depending from said tubular portion into the liquid and being supported and guided solely by said bearings; a hollow adapter detachably mounted on said ilange portion; a vertical gear head motor detachably mounted on the adapter; and a flexible coupling within the adapter, the coupling making driving connection between the motor and the mixing shaft.

7. In mixing apparatus of the type in which rotary mixing means is suspended in a tank of liquid by a vertical` mixing shaft 'that is rotated by a source of power located above the liquid, an improved organization for rigidly mounting the mixing shaft and rotating the same, said organization comprising: a stationary metal support having a stationary vertical tubular portion and a stationary horizontal portion surrounding the tubular portion, the tubular portion projecting above and below the horizontal portion; a thrust bearing mounted adjacent to the upper end of said tubular portion and a second bearing mounted adjacent to the lower end of said tubular portion, both of said bearings being positioned above the upper level of the liquid and out of contact therewith,y and the mixing shaft depending from -said tubular portion and being supported and guided solely by said bearings; a hollow adapter detachabiy mounted on said horizontal portion: a vertical motor detachabiy supported by the adapter; anda flexible coupling within the adapter, the coupling making driving connection from the motor to the mixing shaft.

8. In vmixing apparatus of the type in which rotary mixing means is suspended in a tank of liquid by a vertical mixing shaft that is rotated by a source of power located above the liquid, an improved organization for rigidly mounting the mixing shan and rotating the same. said organization comprising: a stationary vmetal support having a stationary vertical tubular portion and a staticmary horizontal flange portion surrounding the tubular portion, the tubular portion pro- Jecting above and below the flange portion; a thrust bearing mounted within the upper end of said tubular portion and a second bearing mounted within the lower end of said tubular portion, both of said bearings being positioned above the upper level of the liquid and out of contact therewith, and the mixing shaft depending from said tubular portion into the liquid and being supported and guided by said bearings; an originally-separatelhollow adapter mounted on said flange portion; a vertical motor mounted on the adapter; and a driving connection from the motor to the mixing shaft.

9. In mixing apparatus of the type in which rotary mixing means is suspended in a tank of liquid by a vertical shaft that is rotated and supported solely by means located above the liquid; an improved structure for rigidly mounting said shaft for rotation. said structure comprising: a one-piece metal casting having a stationary vertical tubular portion with bearing seats adjacent to its upper and lower ends, mounting and supporting means for said structure in the form of an integral horizontal ange portion surrounding said tubular portion between its ends, integral gussets connecting the bottom of said flange portion with the depending part of said tubular portion, and other integral gussets connecting the top of said ange portion with the upwardly projecting part of said tubular portion.

l0. In mixing apparatus of the type in which rotary mixing means is suspended in a tankof `liquid by a vertical shaft that is rotated and supported solely by means located above the liquid; an improved structure for rigidly mounting said shaft for rotation. said structure comprising: a metal shaft-support having a stationary vertical tubular portion with bearing seats adjacent to its upper and lower ends, mounting and supporting means included in said shaft-support and being in the form of a horizontal flange portion surrounding said tubular portion, and integral gussets connecting said flange portion with said tubular portion; said shaft extending upwardly through said tubular portion and projecting above its upper end; and a pair of bearings each of which has rolling bodies between inner and outer races, one of said bearings being a thrust bearing seated on the upper of said seats and securing the upper end of said shaft against longitudinal movement, and the other of said bearings having its inner race secured to said shaft and its outer race longitudinally slidable in the lower of said seats to allow for expansion and contraction of the shaft caused by temperature changes. y

l1. In mixing apparatusof the type in which rotary mixing means is suspended in a tank of liquid by a vertical mixing shaft that is rotated by a source of power located above the liquid, an improved organization for rigidly mounting the mixing shaft and rotating the same, said organization comprising: an electric-motor-andreduction-gear unit, a shaft-support spaced below said unit and substantially coaxially therewith, the mixing shaft depending from said support and being supported and guided solely by bearings in said support. said shaft projecting upwardly from saidY support and one of said bearings securing the upper end of the shaft against longitudinal movement in either direction, an adapter housing interposed between said unit and said support to secure the two together, said adapter being cooperable with shaft-supports for different sized shafts and with motor-and-gear units having different powers and speeds, and a coupling within the adapter housing operatively connecting said mixing shaft with said unit.

CLAYTON VH. Panty. 

